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Emeritus Consultants Biographies
Harry Stephenson Lucraft, the son of a grocer, was born in Adelaide, attended Scotch College in Perth and graduated in medicine at the University of Edinburgh, albeit delayed by dangerous naval service in the North Sea during World War I. His mother's father, Richard Stephenson, was cousin to George of steam engine fame. His peripatetic habits continued with his return to Western Australia for a two year sojourn as District Medical Officer in Norseman, a return to London to practice in Dulwich and to obtain further degrees, including a Doctorate in Medicine and finally back again to Perth, entering a suburban general practice. He returned to England to sit and pass the Membership examination of the Royal College of Physicians at the age of 40. Returning to Perth, he entered consultant practice with a special interest in cardiology. During World War II he was appointed a Medical Specialist to Western Command but he was sequestered in Perth, to his bitter chagrin, presumably because of his short stature at 5 feet, 2inches. His professional life was consumed by the care of patients. His medical competence was unquestioned and a quotation from his obituary gives succinctly the widely held opinion of him: "Some physicians during their lifetime gain the general respect of colleagues and patients. Some - a smaller number - gain admiration as well. A select few win respect, admiration and in addition, great affection. Of these was Lucraft". He was a skilled and artistic amateur photographer. He carried his camera in his car at all times just in case a misty scene appeared - he favoured mistscapes. He died in the hospital he had served, the Royal Perth Hospital, on Christmas Eve 1953 from the presumed legacy of cigarette smoking. |
